Nathan Aspinall is ready for the Premier League. (Image: SKY SPORTS)
Nathan Aspinall is spending less time on social media ahead of the start of the Premier League Darts season on Thursday, a move that has pleased his wife amid a whirlwind surrounding his inclusion. The Asp has reaffirmed that the only opinion on the subject that matters is that of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and CEO Matt Porter.
Aspinall and Gerwyn Price’s surprise involvement ruffled feathers after finishing underwhelming 2024 campaigns with solid World Darts Championship runs.
World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker and world No. 7 Dave Chisnall were the highest-profile exclusions, on which the former publicly made his disappointment known.
But just days away from opening night in Belfast, Aspinall has once again made it clear that he’s bored of discussing the adversity linked with his selection.
“I’ve come off social media for a start, which, according to my missus, was a fantastic move because I got slated,” Aspinall told Sky Sports.
“But no, listen, I’ve said it recently that the only opinion that matters is the PDC’s. People are entitled to their opinions, and people have their favourites.
“Whoever is in, we know others say, ‘Well, Nathan should’ve been in; this guy should’ve been in’.
“People have opinions, and that’s okay, but for me, the only opinions that matter are Matt Porter’s and the PDC’s, and they put me in, so I’m in.”
‘The only opinion that matters is the PDC’s’ ?????? Nathan Aspinall shuts down those who criticised his selection for this year’s Premier League Darts ??????️
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts)
Nathan Aspinall faces Luke Humphries in Belfast. (Image: Getty)
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He added: “I don’t need to prove anything. I am really good friends with Chizzy, and it isn’t Dave who would have written [social media criticism].
“I have no issues with Dave because he won’t have written that. That is a separate issue that I will deal with. And I am not going to talk about Mike De Decker. I am sick of talking about Mike De Decker.
“I will never forget the first time I met Barry Hearn, and he said we are entertainers as much as sportspeople, and that is what I bring to the table.
“I am an entertainer. I am also really good at darts, but I am also an entertainer as well, and that is just who I am as a person.”
De Decker joined frustrated fans in suggesting that a primary reason for Aspinall’s inclusion was his popular walk-on song, The Killer’s ‘Mr Brightside’.
“The crowd love it. It shows how powerful it is that players want to play me just to hear that song,” Aspinall continued.
“It means a lot to darts fans around the world. I just really, really need to learn the words because after four years I still don’t know the lyrics.”
The Belfast crowd will undoubtedly be enjoying Aspinall’s inclusion when the karaoke classic is blasting around the SSE Arena ahead of his quarter-final match against world No. 1 Luke Humphries on Thursday night.